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Rob Dainty View Drop Down
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Posts: 5 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Rob Dainty Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: The vortex concept
    Posted: 15 Feb 07 at 12:07pm
I have been looking around for a while to find a single-handed trapeze performance dinghy which is maybe not as difficult to sail as perhaps an RS600/700. I suspect  there are a lot of people out there who are in the same boat (or would like to be!). The boat that did meet the needs of the majority was the Vortex. I know the guys sailing them love them, so why oh why do Laser still not produce them any more.   
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glewis View Drop Down
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Posts: 79 		Post Options Post Options   Quote glewis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Feb 07 at 12:23pm

didn't know that, since when?

 

 

Giles

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Rob Dainty View Drop Down
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Posts: 5 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Rob Dainty Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Feb 07 at 12:30pm
I spoke with Laser quite a while ago.They gave the impression that although they still hold the moulds and builders rights they were not going to be building any new Vortex in the near future. If someone could tell me different then I would feel a lot happier. The Vortex is a one off and is a great boat to sail. I could buy a used one and just enjoy, but surely if there were new boats about then the class would grow even stronger.

Edited by Rob Dainty
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iwsmithuk View Drop Down
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Posts: 141 		Post Options Post Options   Quote iwsmithuk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Feb 07 at 2:30pm

Hi Rob.

Sounds like the Vortex would be ideal for you. Your reasons for considering it were exactly the same as mine, fast trapeze singlehander with an asymmetric but not as much swimming as the 700/skiff. I've been sailing it for a couple of seasons now, great fun, and sails well in fast handicap fleet.

There's some videos of vortex sailing in the video of the week section on here, worth a look if you haven't seen them yet.

WRT new builds, I believe the class association are in negociation to obtain the moulds although I'm not involved and I don't know the details. If you're interested you could e-mail someone from the class association via the website www.sailvortex.org

Come along to the stand at the show, there should be a used boat list available, and there'll be plenty of vortex sailors around to talk to.

 
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Scooby_simon View Drop Down
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Posts: 2415 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Scooby_simon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Feb 07 at 2:48pm

Rob,

If you are allowed Cat's where you sail, then don't discount an F16.  Single handed with a kite and as fast as a fast thing

Wanna learn to Ski - PM me..
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Medway Maniac View Drop Down
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Posts: 2788 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Medway Maniac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Feb 07 at 7:48pm
Originally posted by iwsmithuk

 the Vortex .......sails well in fast handicap fleet.

Can't really agree there.

I play about with the PY's to give a level playing field in our pursuit races. One thing I do is give different numbers for different wind strengths. I always thought that the Contender needed huge adjustments, but the Vortex is easlily the most extreme in that regard. Very slow in light airs, very quick once the wind's up.

Makes it difficult in normal handicap racing in that the result is somewhat predetermined by the conditions - brings the same problems as trying to race cats against dinghies in fact. Funny that...

 
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kimaldis View Drop Down
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Posts: 3 		Post Options Post Options   Quote kimaldis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Feb 07 at 5:42pm

I'm a vortex sailer. I also think it's perfect for you Rob. It's an easy boat to get going with but it's always going to be a challenge.

There is a difference in relative speed in big and light winds but the kite has made a big difference there. It's also made it a more interesting boat downwind in middling winds.

laser, in my view, just haven't a clue about marketing and I think they just give up without really trying. Look at how many of their boats discontinued after a very short period. Most of them were pretty good boats.

Vortex opens are a blast too. And very friendly.

Check out the Vortex web site to find someone close to you for a demo: http://www.sailvortex.org/

and check out the boat in action at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4da-JpFlYA. a cut down of Sky Sports' televising of the 2003 Nationals in Torbay.



Edited by kimaldis
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sailor.jon View Drop Down
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Posts: 361 		Post Options Post Options   Quote sailor.jon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Feb 07 at 6:24pm

i just swaped my laser for a vortex a few weeks ago.

it is absolutly terrific, love every minuiet of sailing it. cant wait for the opens

 

go for it
Jon
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Jack Sparrow View Drop Down
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Posts: 2965 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Jack Sparrow Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Feb 07 at 11:46pm
Originally posted by Medway Maniac

Originally posted by iwsmithuk


 the Vortex .......sails well in fast handicap fleet.



Can't really agree there.


I play about with the PY's to give a level playing field in our pursuit
races. One thing I do is give different numbers for different wind
strengths. I always thought that the Contender needed huge adjustments,
but the Vortex is easlily the most extreme in that regard. Very slow in
light airs, very quick once the wind's up.


Makes it difficult in normal handicap racing in that the result is
somewhat predetermined by the conditions - brings the same problems
as trying to race cats against dinghies in fact. Funny that...


 



How much play in PY are we talking here? And is this for the Assy Vortex
as well?
Farr 3.7 Class Website
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English Dave View Drop Down
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Posts: 682 		Post Options Post Options   Quote English Dave Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Feb 07 at 10:11am
Got to agree with Medway on this. Because the Vortex has a stayed mast you cannot get the boom out enough to make a dead-downwind option work- this is essential in the light stuff. Once the wind is up enough to work the angles downwind the Vortex is very competitive. I can only comment on personal experience of the non-assy variant but in light winds I was no faster than Toppers and slower than Lasers "on the water". In BF3 I could match Lasers on handicap and once the wind really got up I was approx 50% faster than Lasers so the handicap worked in my favour.

It is always difficult trying to handicap race cat-type boats against non-cats. I really enjoyed my Vortex but I sold it because without fleet racing it was impossible to rate myself against other sailors. If I was making the same "journey" again, I would consider a Sprint15 or Inter17, if not a F16 (bit more wonga required). If you want to go fast on a stable boat, get a cat.

However, for the money, the Vortex is a good boat if you can avoid breaking the tiller and diving through the mainsail.
English Dave
Ballyholme Yacht Club

(You'd think I'd be better at it by now)

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